[RipFence]

Hello All:
I recently posted a project https://www.lumberjocks.com/projects/420100
and there were comments/questions about Downy Fabric Softener. So I thought I would post the topic here.
I originally learned of Downy right here on LumberJocks from this blog post by RustFever: https://www.lumberjocks.com/rustfever/blog/37599
There is also a youtube video on the process:

The part about Downy starts at ~4:28.
Since I have access to mostly kiln dried lumber this has been a real help to my woodworking.
Cheers,
Jim

 

[SMP]

Crazy, never knew about this, thanks for posting!

 

[therealSteveN]

Interesting. gotta wonder is the wood laundry fresh smelling, and softer to touch?

Woodworking has more Witches brew fixes, than Withches do.

 

[RipFence]

Ha, I should have mentioned that Downy comes in unscented. I HATE perfumey smells!!!

Interesting. gotta wonder is the wood laundry fresh smelling, and softer to touch?

Woodworking has more Witches brew fixes, than Withches do.

- therealSteveN

 

[Sylvain]

Downey is not available everywhere in the world.
I wander: would any softener do?

edit:
I see it is a Procter and Gamble product.
Those softener are branded "Lenor" where I live. But of course one can not be sure it is exactly the same product.

 

[John Smith_inFL]

there are a few guys on another forum that say soaking paint brushes in Fabric Softener is good for cleaning paint out of them in the "final wash" sequence. I'll give that one a try.
but - soaking wood in soapy water for a week ?? - I would be quite hesitant with that.

regardless - your Stickley Chair came out awesome !!
good work, Jim.

 

[OldBull]

I love to watch Engles coach shop make wagon wheels, here he shows the bending strap / process he uses. He talkes a lot about stretching.

.

 

[Foghorn]

I use this stuff for bending tricky guitar sides.
https://www.veneersupplies.com/products/Super-Soft-2-Veneer-Softener-Conditioner.html

 

[xeddog]

So apparently, the fabric softener doesn't have any negative effects on finishing or gluing?

 

[RipFence]

Soaking in downy and steaming has not created any issues for my projects finished with Watco Danish oil and Sutherland Wells polymerized tung oil. No issues with gluing.
Can't speak for other finishes.

 

[RipFence]

Just thought of something I should have mentioned. You're likely to get checks in the ends. So leave the board several inches longer than what you eventually need.